Job details

Salary: £41,177 to £49,241 per annum (inclusive of allowances)
Location: Civic Centre, Gravesend
Status: Full time (Permanent)
Hours: 37 hours per week
Closing date: 8 November 2026

The role

Support the HR Manager through the delivery of an efficient HR operational service and strive to ensure a high quality of service is delivered.
Engaging with key stakeholders to understand their needs and priorities and support managers with the implementation of organisational change.
To enable managers to manage with competence and confidence, and in a way which enhances performance
Provide advice expert advice and support on a wide variety of employee relations activities including issues affecting individual members of staff, some of which may be complex.
Undertake formal consultations in line with the organisational change process, or similar situations affecting employee terms and conditions, such as TUPE transfer, ensuring that all legal requirements are met, and all formal paperwork is completed accordingly.
Act as client manager for formal investigations.
Providing professional HR advice to chairs of hearings and appeals
To lead on sickness absence for the Council, including dealing with more complex cases of ill-health.
Full line management responsibility for HR Officers. Provide coaching and mentoring tomembers of the HR Team as necessary.
Manage complex HR Projects (Examples - organisational design, reward & retention, equality & diversity, training & developments, job evaluation)

About you

We are looking for an experienced HR professional with strong employment law knowledge, complex employee relations experience and excellent communication skills. You’ll hold CIPD Level 7 or have equivalent senior HR advisory experience, build effective relationships and confidently manage competing priorities

Working for Gravesham

We are committed to delivering to the community and working with us means you are part of delivering the level of growth and improvement our community needs and deserves. A range of services have been provided to over 106,000 people and 4,000 businesses.
The Borough of Gravesham, situated in the north west corner of Kent, covers 25,000 acres of the most varied countryside in south east England. Bordered by the River Thames to the north, it is at the heart of Thames Gateway and has a significant role to play in the regeneration of a major government growth area.
Read more information about working for us
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Benefits

A minimum of 23 Days Annual Leave, plus paid bank holidays.
Membership to Local Government Pension Scheme - Local Government Pension Scheme
Access to over 1000+ instant discounts from favourite retailers, restaurants, food delivery services and attractions via our benefits portal VivUp.
Career development, training opportunities and access to e-learning
Access to eye care vouchers and VDU Glasses
External Occupational Health service
Cycle to Work Scheme
Access to an employee assistance programme 24/7
Hybrid Working (minimum two days in the office per week)
Free parking
Octopus Electric Vehicles Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Important Information

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job description.
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager please call Laura Lowrey on 01474 337720.
The proposed interview date for this role is 20 November 2026

How to apply

You can apply for this job via our online form. You will be asked to select the job you are applying for and upload a CV and supporting statement. You will also need to provide details of 2 references so please have these available when starting your application.
You should submit your application by 8 November 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
Apply for this job
All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Human Resources Team on 01474 337374.

Job Profile

Download the Employee Relations Manager job description.